Universal Orlando is moving forward on their 2014 plans and beyond, even as summer crowds swarm the parks. Let’s take a stroll around Universal Orlando Resort and see what’s on tap in Springfield, Diagon Alley, Halloween Horror Nights and more in today’s update.

HALLOWEEN HORROR NIGHTS EVIL DEAD MAZE CONFIRMED

While the secret has been out of the bag for weeks now, it was officially confirmed last night at midnight, that Evil Dead will join the roster of haunted housed alongside Cabin in the Woods at this year’s Halloween Horror Nights at the Universal Orlando Resort.

“The Evil Dead series is iconic, and this latest film has set the scare factor to 11,” said Michael Aiello from Universal Orlando’s Entertainment team. “These haunted mazes will be just as intense and unapologetically terrifying, and I can’t wait for my fellow horror fans to venture inside and live the unyielding horror they’ve seen in the film.”

“I’m thrilled with how popular ‘Evil Dead’ has become with horror fans, and it’s exciting that it’s coming to life at Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights,” said Fede Alvarez, director of this year’s “Evil Dead” film. “Just like the film, this haunted maze is going to be over-the-top, in-your-face and completely outrageous – and I can’t wait to see it.”

“Watching ‘Evil Dead’s unrelenting horror unfold in movie theatres was undoubtedly an unnerving experience, but with Halloween Horror Nights, we’re taking it one step further,” said John Murdy, Creative Director for Universal Studios Hollywood. “Fans of ‘Evil Dead’ will feel like they’ve left the safety of the theatre and stepped through the screen into a living horror movie where the film’s demonic characters are coming for them. Our incredibly immersive and highly disturbing maze experience will come to life with the same attention to detail and production value of the film and will be the ultimate thrill for horror movie fans.”

We can’t wait to see what Universal has up their sleeve for this year when we visit Halloween Horror Nights on October 17th. Join us if you dare!

Halloween Horror Nights Construction Kicks Off

While Halloween still might be months away, Universal has already begun visible construction on one of the Haunt locations for Halloween Horror Nights 23. In the extended queue for Disaster, guests now see a large black wall, and curtain. This wall is near impenetrable so we are not anticipating getting any photos from this location.

Universal’s HR team also let the cat out of the bag, that the Rocky Horror Tribute show would be returning to this year’s Halloween Horror Nights event. Replacing last year’s magic with “attitude” show, guests will surely be thrilled to have this show back. Plus, the Bill and Ted show is casting and looking for celebrity lookalikes.

Springfield USA progress

Trees have been planted, concrete walkways have been poured, and Duff Garden’s bricks have been painted, we are in the final stretch for the rest of this area to open to the public. Kang and Kodos Twirl N’ Hurl continues its ride testing procedures while the rest of the waterfront area is finished. We are still missing the Bumble Bee Man Taco Truck, along with the static Springfield citizens like Duff Man, Chief Wiggum and a few more.

This little area sure did transform quickly, didn’t it?!

For a simple spinner, this attraction is a think of beauty.

We can’t wait for this area to be complete!

Diagon Alley emerging details

The front framing for Diagon Alley is emerging, along with details in the front of Kings Cross Station, as the 3 entrances emerge.

The sheet rock has been completed on the front of the far left building, with the other buildings also advancing rapidly. Summer 2014 is a year away, and this project is moving fast.

The closer you get, the more you realize just how massive this building really is.

This is the train station where you’ll catch a ride on the Hogwarts Express.

CityWalk Coke Screen Testing

The broken Coca-Cola screen in CityWalk was in testing this week as Universal engineers try to repair it.

Hogsmede Station Progress

Over at the Wizarding World, the Hogsmede station, as part of Phase II, now has the metal roof, and is structurally near completion. The interior framing should begin to take shape shortly.

Zamp in the Lamp

A cute little detail in Seuss Landing has been missing its sign for a while. Without the hanging Zamp in the Lamp sign, guests just see an outline.

Jurassic Park Construction Prep

Over at Jurassic Park markers can be found on the ground, and in the extended queue marking where we can begin to see construction take place. Team Members over at the Lost Continent Games have been hearing that they will be moving over to Jurassic Park, which will significantly change the entire feel of the Jurassic Park land.

UNOFFICIAL UNIVERSAL ORLANDO PODCAST

On the newest episode of the Unofficial Universal Orlando Podcast, we have all the recent Halloween Horror Nights news, as well as more information from behind the scenes at the new Cabana Bay Hotel and Springfield area.

Halloween Horror Nights information has begun to leak out very early this year and we share everything we know on Darren’s new segment “Dead Mans’ Die-Gest”

Click on the link below and find out even more about the creation of the area, as well as the details of the creation of the food available at such places as Cletus’ Chicken Shack and the infamous Krusty Burger.

That’s what we’ve got for you this week folks. So, in conclusion, we have Evil Dead, Cabin in the Woods, Springfield, Diagon Alley, Zamp in the Lamp without his stamp, and new Jurassic Park construction. Yep, that about covers it.

By day, Eric is in Marketing and Social Media. But on the weekends, he's a theme park addict. Eric is a frequent contributor to MiceChat's Orlando Parkhopper columns and tends to focus his efforts on what's new and what's news at Universal Studios and SeaWorld.